City prepares for traffic twists from the Big Dig. (traffic rerouting due to construction of Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel project, Boston, Massachusetts)

Parts of Atlantic Avenue and the Surface Artery will be changed to one-way, an artery on-ramp is expected to be relocated, and several downtown streets will see parking restrictions and reduced access as Boston motorists get their first real estate of the $5 billion Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel project later this year.

But as the city's commuters wait for the other shoe to drop, artery/tunnel officials are trying to put their best foot forward by ensuring that traffic flows as smoothly as possible. Establishing confidence early on is critical, according to traffic management experts.

"This is the first real artery work being distributed, and it has to work well," said Anthony DiSarcina, whose firm has helped establish a vehicular strategy for the utility relocation work beginning …